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Calcio Debate: Roma v Milan - the key personal battles
Goal.com looks at key individual duels ahead of Saturday's clash...
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £19.50 | Draw £32.50 | Arsenal £36.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £20.50 | Draw £34.00 | Arsenal £36.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £20.00 | Draw £32.00 | Arsenal £35.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £19.50 | Draw £34.00 | Arsenal £40.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £19.90 | Draw £32.50 | Arsenal £34.50 |
|
5 Mar 2010 11:30:00
By Subhankar Mondal
With third-placed Roma hosting second-placed Milan in Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday night, where on the pitch are the pivotal head-to-head contests likely to occur?
LUCA TONI v ALESSANDRO NESTA
Luca Toni has been injured in recent times but could be set for a surprise start against Milan on Saturday night. The giant Italian international striker has scored twice in four league appearances since joining Roma from Bayern Munich in January on loan until the end of the 2009-10 season.
The 32-year-old was thought to be 'finished' when he was booted out of Bavaria, but Claudio Ranieri embraced a player whom he thought would add a different dimension to their game.
Toni might not have pace or even the tricks to hoodwink his markers, but his positional sense is superb. Toni's ability to hold the ball upfront and to use his towering figure to head in crosses will be key aspects of his game against Milan and those that central defenders Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva will have to be aware of.
Nesta has been a colossus for Milan at the heart of their defence and it is no secret that he has been their best player defensively this season. Nesta failed to combat Wayne Rooney in the Champions League recently but he will look to smother the threat posed by Toni.
Nesta too has struggled with injuries in recent years but his tactical reading of the game and technical abilities in holding the back-line together are legendary. With Thiago Silva to help him in central defence, Nesta could emerge the winner in nullifying Toni in Rome.
DANIELE DE ROSSI v ANDREA PIRLO
Daniele De Rossi is a unique player who is close to being regarded as a complete midfielder: he can pass the ball accurately from long distance and short range, make heavy tackles and challenges, help out the defenders, surge forward and take good free kicks.
Against a Milan midfield that relies on team cohesion - and one that struggles to cope with pace and counter-attacks - De Rossi's work rate and physical stamina will be crucial.
Andrea Pirlo will be a direct challenger to De Rossi on Saturday night. Pirlo's form has not been exactly consistent this campaign, but for a player who was thought to be done and dusted, the 30-year-old has his inspired moments.
Pirlo will attempt to supply the passes for the forward line and it will be interesting to see how he copes with De Rossi. Pirlo's vision and ability to pick out team-mates from 50 miles afar are legendary, but De Rossi has the edge in being the more mobile and quicker of the two.
NICOLAS BURDISSO v RONALDINHO
There have always been question-marks over the Argentine's ability, but, unlike at Inter, Nicolas Burdisso has been excellent at Roma this season. The stopper is expected to play at right-back on Saturday where he will be up against the one and only Ronaldinho.
Burdisso is not very keen on making marauding forward runs, which will help in pushing himself back when needed against the Brazilian; and although there is a distinct suspicion that he will lose this battle, if he gets help from his fellow defenders and midfielder, he could trim Ronnie's effectiveness to a reasonable extent.
Ronaldinho provided two assists in Milan's 3-1 win against Atalanta last weekend, just as he had given two assists in their 2-1 defeat of Fiorentina. Ronnie has scored nine times in Serie A so far this campaign but more importantly has 12 assists to his name.
The 29-year-old will again be at the heart of every creative move that Milan will craft. Ronnie has been in scintillating form this campaign and he will certainly look to carry that on. Ronaldinho doesn't run too much with the ball but uses his God-given technique and skills to marvellous effect.
MIRKO VUCINIC v MATHIEU FLAMINI
Mirko Vucinic has scored five goals and given five assists, besides helping in countless attacks and moves. The Montenegrin has not been among the goals too much this campaign but he has cut a very vital figure along the left side.
Vucinic usually features as a support striker and his runs along the flank and his crosses will be significant for Roma. Milan have looked vulnerable in the full-back positions and Vucinic's pace and movement could make him a stand-out player.
Mathieu Flamini will be a vital cog in the midfield for Milan and he will need to ensure that Vucinic doesn't get a free run on the Milan goal. The Frenchman has not played regularly for the Rossoneri since joining them from Arsenal in 2008, and so far this campaign has been handed only nine starts in Serie A. But his presence in the midfield will be key.
CLAUDIO RANIERI v LEONARDO
Claudio Ranieri is something of a joke among many football journalists, and indeed, some of his tactics and his attitude do seem to justify the ridicule he earns. However, this campaign he has been marvellous for Roma, whom he took over when they were struggling in the bottom half of the table.
Roma were on a great unbeaten run but their defeat to Panathinaikos in Greece in the Europa League ended that sequence. At one point Roma were up to second in the table and at the moment are third. But the problem is that Ranieri is often happy with second-best, which means he does not have a winning mentality that in turn transmits to his team.
Leonardo was on the verge of the sack just two months into the season but since the end of September he has turned things around. Initially the Brazilian tinkered with formation and tactics but now that he has discovered a 4-3-3 formation that often breaks into a 4-2-1-3 system, the Rossoneri are more stable and more coherent.
Leonardo is a rookie coach and in his first season at Milan, but it is turning out to be better than most people had predicted. Milan are second in the table and Leonardo will be eager to mastermind a win against Roma on Saturday night to pile up more pressure on city rivals and league leaders Inter.
LUCA TONI v ALESSANDRO NESTA
Luca Toni has been injured in recent times but could be set for a surprise start against Milan on Saturday night. The giant Italian international striker has scored twice in four league appearances since joining Roma from Bayern Munich in January on loan until the end of the 2009-10 season.
The 32-year-old was thought to be 'finished' when he was booted out of Bavaria, but Claudio Ranieri embraced a player whom he thought would add a different dimension to their game.
Toni might not have pace or even the tricks to hoodwink his markers, but his positional sense is superb. Toni's ability to hold the ball upfront and to use his towering figure to head in crosses will be key aspects of his game against Milan and those that central defenders Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva will have to be aware of.
Nesta has been a colossus for Milan at the heart of their defence and it is no secret that he has been their best player defensively this season. Nesta failed to combat Wayne Rooney in the Champions League recently but he will look to smother the threat posed by Toni.
Nesta too has struggled with injuries in recent years but his tactical reading of the game and technical abilities in holding the back-line together are legendary. With Thiago Silva to help him in central defence, Nesta could emerge the winner in nullifying Toni in Rome.
DANIELE DE ROSSI v ANDREA PIRLO
Daniele De Rossi is a unique player who is close to being regarded as a complete midfielder: he can pass the ball accurately from long distance and short range, make heavy tackles and challenges, help out the defenders, surge forward and take good free kicks.
Against a Milan midfield that relies on team cohesion - and one that struggles to cope with pace and counter-attacks - De Rossi's work rate and physical stamina will be crucial.
Andrea Pirlo will be a direct challenger to De Rossi on Saturday night. Pirlo's form has not been exactly consistent this campaign, but for a player who was thought to be done and dusted, the 30-year-old has his inspired moments.
Pirlo will attempt to supply the passes for the forward line and it will be interesting to see how he copes with De Rossi. Pirlo's vision and ability to pick out team-mates from 50 miles afar are legendary, but De Rossi has the edge in being the more mobile and quicker of the two.
NICOLAS BURDISSO v RONALDINHO
There have always been question-marks over the Argentine's ability, but, unlike at Inter, Nicolas Burdisso has been excellent at Roma this season. The stopper is expected to play at right-back on Saturday where he will be up against the one and only Ronaldinho.
Burdisso is not very keen on making marauding forward runs, which will help in pushing himself back when needed against the Brazilian; and although there is a distinct suspicion that he will lose this battle, if he gets help from his fellow defenders and midfielder, he could trim Ronnie's effectiveness to a reasonable extent.
Ronaldinho provided two assists in Milan's 3-1 win against Atalanta last weekend, just as he had given two assists in their 2-1 defeat of Fiorentina. Ronnie has scored nine times in Serie A so far this campaign but more importantly has 12 assists to his name.
The 29-year-old will again be at the heart of every creative move that Milan will craft. Ronnie has been in scintillating form this campaign and he will certainly look to carry that on. Ronaldinho doesn't run too much with the ball but uses his God-given technique and skills to marvellous effect.
MIRKO VUCINIC v MATHIEU FLAMINI
Mirko Vucinic has scored five goals and given five assists, besides helping in countless attacks and moves. The Montenegrin has not been among the goals too much this campaign but he has cut a very vital figure along the left side.
Vucinic usually features as a support striker and his runs along the flank and his crosses will be significant for Roma. Milan have looked vulnerable in the full-back positions and Vucinic's pace and movement could make him a stand-out player.
Mathieu Flamini will be a vital cog in the midfield for Milan and he will need to ensure that Vucinic doesn't get a free run on the Milan goal. The Frenchman has not played regularly for the Rossoneri since joining them from Arsenal in 2008, and so far this campaign has been handed only nine starts in Serie A. But his presence in the midfield will be key.
CLAUDIO RANIERI v LEONARDO
Claudio Ranieri is something of a joke among many football journalists, and indeed, some of his tactics and his attitude do seem to justify the ridicule he earns. However, this campaign he has been marvellous for Roma, whom he took over when they were struggling in the bottom half of the table.
Roma were on a great unbeaten run but their defeat to Panathinaikos in Greece in the Europa League ended that sequence. At one point Roma were up to second in the table and at the moment are third. But the problem is that Ranieri is often happy with second-best, which means he does not have a winning mentality that in turn transmits to his team.
Leonardo was on the verge of the sack just two months into the season but since the end of September he has turned things around. Initially the Brazilian tinkered with formation and tactics but now that he has discovered a 4-3-3 formation that often breaks into a 4-2-1-3 system, the Rossoneri are more stable and more coherent.
Leonardo is a rookie coach and in his first season at Milan, but it is turning out to be better than most people had predicted. Milan are second in the table and Leonardo will be eager to mastermind a win against Roma on Saturday night to pile up more pressure on city rivals and league leaders Inter.
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